Airtricity League Derry host Sligo in game of the weekend

League leaders Sligo Rovers travel to the Brandywell to face Derry City looking to keep some breathing space between them and the chasing pack as the gap to second placed St. Pat’s is now just four points.

The Candystripes secured a 1-0 win in UCD last time out and need to maintain their winning form to stay in touch with the leaders. Sligo beat Derry 4-0 in the EA SPORTS Cup last month.

In team news; Derry are likely to start new signings Marc Brolly (Dungannon Swifts) and Conor Murphy (ex-Monaghan) but Stewart Greacen, Mark Farren, Kevin Deery and Rory Patterson are out through injury. Stephen McLaughlin and Simon Madden are suspended. Barry Molloy and Patrick McEleney are doubts.

Sligo’s Danny North is banned. Richard Brush is out injured after suffering cracked ribs in training and Ryan Connolly is set to make his debut. Jason McGuinness (hamstring strain) should be fit.

Speaking ahead of the game, home manager Declan Devine said: “Sligo will be disappointed about not winning against Bray and they’ll want to get back to winning ways. If you stand off them and give them too much respect they’ll hurt you, so whatever squad we pick we just have to get amongst Sligo and we have to try and make sure that we keep possession of the ball when we have it and when we don’t have we have to work extremely hard to get it back.”

Sligo boss Ian Baraclough meanwhile has spoken to the club’s official website stating: “We all know that we can’t expect the same result as we had in the game against Derry in the EA Sports Cup in the Showgrounds a few weeks ago. But if we can carry on in the same vein where we left off in that game then hopefully we can end up with a favorable result.”

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